Fort Sumner man killed in crash

A 50-year-old Fort Sumner man was killed Thursday morning when his car crashed into a trailer that blocked U.S. 60/84 after becoming detached from a semi-truck.

Felix Chavez was pronounced dead at the scene, according to State Police Capt. Jimmy Glascock.

The crash occurred before sunrise around 5:30 a.m.

Chavez was driving a 2010 Camaro east on U.S. 60/84 near its junction with State Road 212 on the edge of Fort Sumner, when he struck the trailer and his vehicle continued east, coming to rest in an open field south of the highway, Glascock said.

Glascock said the trailer became detached from a semi-truck driven by Jesse Hale.

Hale, 56, driving a truck belonging to the Finney Farms business on the north side of the highway, pulled out to go west when the trailer detached from his truck and came to rest crossing the eastbound lane, Glascock said.

Hale had radioed his dispatch to let them know and to coordinate efforts to stop traffic so they could remove the trailer from the road when the crash occurred, he said.

Glascock said the state’s motor transport division is inspecting the truck for mechanical soundness and an investigation into the crash continues.

No citations had been issued as of Thursday, pending completion of the investigation.